MU Faculty Voices Concern Over Job Programs

COLUMBIA- MU faculty heard about the evaulation of degree programs, a possible change in their retirement plan, and other financial matters at a meeting Wednesday afternoon

There are 75 job programs under review after low graduation numbers and a new proposed retirement plan that may eliminate pensions.

The new plans will only effect new employees, but some faculty members expressed their concerns over the programs.

"I can see a need that we have to rationalize and figure what works and what doesn't work," said MU professor Stephen Montgomery-Smith. "But I feel that the people who put this list together really don't know what they're doing."

Chancellor Brady Deaton says no jobs will be threatened during this program.

Deaton also stated goals for MU's six-year graduation rate. He said 69.3% of undergraduate students currently complete their degrees in six years. He said he wants that rate to increase to 75% but doesn't want the goal to stop students from attending MU.

"We don't want to be a small elite university," Deaton said, "or even a large elite university. We want to provide access to a diverse range of students across the state and nation."

Before the meeting ended, MU Director of Budget Tim Rooney discussed a possible budget reduction for fiscal year 2012. He said the reduction would amount to about 10 to 31 million dollars less than this year.

"I think the fiscal year 20-12 budget will perhaps be the most daunting budget that we have had to work through," Rooney said. "Certainly since I have been here."

Deaton also noted 100 new faculty members and a record enrollment number of more than six-thousand freshmen.